There are so many talking points from that five goal thriller it’s hard to know where to start.

Melbourne City deserve immense credit for holding on in the second half and showing the character they were criticised for lacking earlier in the season. Western Sydney played their part in a blistering night of football and were a few misplaced final balls and Thomas Sorensen away from returning to the top of the ladder.

Despite five goals the key talking point is going to be the disallowed goal at 2-2. “He blew the whistle, I don’t know why he called it back,” Mitch Nichols told Fox Sports after the match.

90 minutes is not enough to evaluate City’s revised formation but in the first half it looked potent as an attacking option but in the second it looked a liability defensively. However, with the quality of Mooy, Novillo and Fornaroli in the line-up it hardly matters how the eight blokes behind them are structuring themselves.

Both these sides will be there at the business end of the season and the three points for City pushes them back into third spot, just one win from the summit. The Wanderers remain in second place on goal difference behind Brisbane Roar.

Thank you for joining me, I’m heading for the beer fridge and settling in for the return of Andy Keogh. Catch you next time.

Full-time: Melbourne City 3-2 Western Sydney Wanderers

City win! Incredible match and an incredible result for Melbourne City. They were on the ropes all second half but snatched the decisive goal late on. The disallowed strike ten minutes from time will be a talking point but the Wanderers’ ten-game unbeaten run is over.

89 min: That goal has given City a new lease of life in midfield. Tackles are snapping, the crowd is rocking and Wanderers attackers are being double teamed. Nichols does well to create a shooting chance on the edge of City’s box but Sorensen does well to claim it low to his right.

GOAL! Melbourne City 3-2 Western Sydney Wanderers (Novillo 84)

Would you believe it? City have the lead back! A rare spell of attacking pressure results in the ball finding Novillo on the edge of the box and he cuts in on his right foot and slams a low curling drive past Redmayne’s left hand. Magnificent strike from the Frenchman. Totally against the run of play. Massive moment in the season for Melbourne City.

83 min: End to end again here at AAMI Park but not at the breakneck speed of the first half. Both sides trying manfully to win this but fatigue is affecting the final ball and shot. Mebrahtu the latest Wanderer to find Sorensen’s imposing frame in his way.

Disallowed goal!

80 min: Controversy again between these teams at AAMI Park as the Wanderers think they’ve scored from a quickly taken free kick. The referee curtails the celebrations and the Wanderers are furious. To be fair to the visitors it did look as though Gillett had blown his whistle to allow play to restart. Lucky escape for City!

76 min: Actually, City have switched to a back four with Clisby alongside Kisnorbo in the centre and an extra body to stem the tide in midfield. Castelen still able to get to the byline and stab a cross in though. Can City hold out?

73 min: Sorensen again saves City! Wanderers turning the screw with a series of corners. From one, Bridge drives in a shot that looks to wrongfoot Sorensen but he manages to get a mitt onto it and keep it out - just!

Trifiro on for Hughes, Paartalu moving into the back three. Will that change things for City?

70 min: City’s passing is nowhere near as crisp as it was in the first half, making attacking transition impossible. The Wanderers are capitalising on every errant touch and Castelen again benefits, driving in a low shot that’s parried at the near post by the overworked Sorensen. If there is going to be a winner tonight, there’s only one team looking likely right now.

66 min: Amazing double save from Sorensen! City can’t clear their lines and it’s wave after wave of attack. First Castelen is repelled and then Bridge by City’s stopper. Both strong blocks from the man in yellow. This is a real show of force from Tony Popovic’s side this half.

64 min: You fancy City need to change something or Western Sydney will overrun them soon. So much space in midfield now for Andreu, Dimas, and Nichols. Castelen prospers from this, reaches the byline but his cross can’t be turned in.

57 min: More Wanderers possession but crosses don’t hit their targets and City survive. Only one side in it in the ten minutes since the interval. City’s wingbacks pushed back into defence and their central midfield unable to put a foot on the ball.

53 mins: Nichols free in the box again and after good work from Piovaccari the shot’s well blocked by Clisby. The Wanderers front four all finding time on the ball in dangerous areas. City riding their luck a little at the start of the second half.

51 min: Nichols this time finding room on the left side of City’s defence. This back three or five looks porous. The final ball wasn’t good enough but the Wanderers are sure to have more opportunities if this continues.

45 min: The manic pace of the opening half hour has abated but both sides look likely to create chances in possession. That City back three has massive holes in it and Bridge almost gets through again as the excellent Vidosic feeds him on the inside right channel.

43 min: Bridge fluffs his lines again! It should be 2-2. Andreu threads a majestic pass down the right and the pullback reaches Bridge with bags of time in the penalty area but he screws his shot wide of the post.